Rudd to hear of rail link 'priority'

Yesterday's tour of the Limestone Coast region by Parliamentary Secretary John Murphy and Austrade deputy chief executive officer Peter Yuile was deemed a great success, with both visitors impressed by what the region has to offer.

The visit took in local businesses that get export assistance from Austrade - including Van Schaiks, Bio Gro at Wandilo, the Mil Lel Cheese factory and the Auspine Timber Mill at Tarpeena.

The official visit was the region's first by a Rudd Government Parliamentary Secretary and provided an opportunity for local exporters to air their concerns with the Secretary for Trade.

Mr Murphy says it is exciting times for the south-east South Australian region, but he will take a number of key issues back to Canberra.

"What I have picked up here is clearly you have an inadequate rail link between Penola and Portland, and north of Penola," he said.

"That's something that should be a high priority for Infrastructure Australia and also to improve our roads.

"I realise with the traffic on the roads and the absence of the rail link to Portland, that's an impediment to our export performance, so that is a strong message I'm going to take back to Kevin Rudd."